Legendary Coach Slams Mauricio Ruffy's Team for 'Unacceptable' Mistake at UFC 331

A respected MMA coach believes Mauricio Ruffy and his team are failing to capitalize on his significant potential. At UFC 331, top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan secured a likely title shot with a comeback knockout victory over Ruffy. After Ruffy started strong in the initial minutes, Tsarukyan landed an elbow in the final seconds of the first round, ending the fight.

The result was a surprise in the co-main event, as many anticipated Tsarukyan would rely heavily on wrestling against Ruffy. Instead, Tsarukyan exploited Ruffy’s hesitance late in the round, catching the skilled striker with a powerful elbow.

This marked Ruffy’s first knockout defeat since November 2019. According to a prominent coach, a crucial error led to the fight's conclusion.

Ray Longo: Mauricio Ruffy Made 'Critical Mistake' vs. Arman Tsarukyan

During a recent appearance on The Anik & Florian Podcast, veteran coach Ray Longo strongly criticized Ruffy and his team, stating they allowed Tsarukyan back into the fight at UFC 331.

"It looked like it was going his way when it started, but you can't just fall asleep. We've seen that a few times," Longo commented on Ruffy. "Some fighters just think, ‘Oh, it’s 10 seconds; they won’t do anything.’ That’s just f—— unacceptable, how you can do that. A critical mistake, seriously. The bell doesn’t mean anything. The referee has to step in, and you always have to be alert. I just can't get past that..."

"Ten seconds left, I'll just ride it out, and next thing you know, he’s on the floor," Longo continued, discussing Ruffy. "He was solely focused on not being taken down and showed no respect for anything else."

Ruffy aims to recover in his next bout, following recent wins against Michael Chandler and King Green. His recent work with UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski should enhance his chances of a strong comeback performance.